Though
Ram is principally worshipped by the vaishnavites, yet the festival of Ramnavmi
is celebrated by almost all Hindu sects. This is probably because the Hindus
today, unlike in medieval India, are less sectarian. Moreover, the popularity of
Ram as a symbol of Righteousness and Truth has grown over the years making him a
more universal figure than he was before.

Ramnavami
occurs in the month of March. Celebrations begin with a prayer to the Sun early
in the morning. At midday, when Lord Rama is supposed to have been born, a
special prayer is performed. In northern India especially, an event that draws
popular participation is the Ramnavami procession. The main attraction in this
procession is a gaily decorated chariot in which four persons are dressed up as
Rama, his brother Laxman, his queen Sita and his disciple Hanuman. The chariot
is accompanied by several other persons dressed up in ancient costumes as work
by Rama's solders. The procession is a gusty affair with the participants
shouting praises echoing the happy days of Rama's reign.

Surya
- The Sun was recognized as the source of light and heat even in ancient times.
The importance of the Sun was much more in the higher latitudes from where the
Aryans are supposed to have migrated into India. Many royal dynasties portrayed
symbols of virility like the Sun, Eagle, Lion etc. as their progenitor. Rama's
dynasty considered themselves to have descended from the Sun. This could have
led to the tagging on, of Rama's birthday to a festival devoted to the sun.

On the face of it Sri-Ramnavmi appears to be just a festival commemorating the
reign of a king who was later deified. But even behind present-day traditions
there are clues which unmistakably point to the origin of Ramnavmi as lying
beyond the Ramayana story.

Sri
Ramnavami occurs at the beginning of summer when the sun has started moving
nearer to the northern hemisphere. The Sun is considered to be the progenitor of
Rama's dynasty which is called the Sun dynasty (Raghukula or Raghuvamsa, Raghu
means Sun and Kula or Vamsa mean familial descendant). Rama is also known as
Raghunatha, Raghupati, Raghavendra etc. That all these names begin with the
prefix Raghu is also suggestive of some link with Sun-worship. The hour chosen
for the observance of the lord's birth is that when the sun is overhead and is
at its maximum brilliance. In some Hindu sects, prayers on Ramnavami day start
not with an invocation to Rama but to Surya (sun). Again the syllable Ra is used
in the word to describe the sun and brilliance in many languages. In Sanskrit,
Ravi and Ravindra mean Sun.

Significantly, the ancient Egyptians termed the sun as Amon Ra or simply as
"Ra". In Latin the syllable Ra is used to connote light. For example,
we have Radiance which emission of light, or Radium which means any substance
emitting light or brilliance. The common element is the syllable Ra which in
many languages is used to derive words for describing Sun or light.

The
occurrence of this syllable in most names used for Rama along with other clues
is strongly suggestive that the festival Ramnavami antedates the Ayana and it
must have originated much before the Ramayana, as a 'Sun-festival' for invoking
the Sun who was recognized as the source of light and heat even in ancient
times. The importance of the Sun was much more in the higher latitudes from
where the Aryans are supposed to have migrated into India. Many royal dynasties portrayed
symbols of virility like the Sun, Eagle, Lion etc. as their progenitor. Rama's
dynasty considered themselves to have descended from the Sun. This could have
led to the tagging on, of Rama's birthday to a festival devoted to the sun.

There
is some link between Lord Rama and Sun Worship. The Sun is considered to be the
progenitor of Rama's dynasty which is called the Sun dynasty (Raghukula or
Raghuvamsa, Raghu means Sun and Kula or Vamsa mean familial descendant). Rama is
also known as Raghunatha, Raghupati, Raghavendra etc. That all these names begin
with the prefix Raghu is also suggestive of some link with Sun-worship. The hour
chosen for the observance of the lord's birth is that when the sun is overhead
and is at its maximum brilliance. Significantly, the ancient Egyptians termed
the sun as Amon Ra or simply as "Ra". In Latin the syllable Ra is used
to connote light. For example, we have Radiance which emission of light, or
Radium which means any substance emitting light or brilliance. The common
element is the syllable Ra which in many languages is used to derive words for
describing Sun or light.